Lower Lamoille River, Milton

Where to Go
The lower Lamoille River, located in Milton, drains into Lake Champlain. Two Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department access areas provide fishing opportunities on this stretch of the river. Closest to Lake Champlain is the Lamoille River Access Area. The second, Sears Access Area, is located just upstream.

Both access areas have fishing platforms and the fishing is often good right from the platforms. Both of these areas are universally accessible.

If the fishing is slow, a short drive north on US route 2 will bring you to Sandbar State Park and the causeway across Lake Champlain connecting the mainland to Grand Isle. Once on Grand Isle, be sure to travel the few extra miles to Ed Weed Fish Culture Station, operated by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, where you can take a tour of the state’s newest and largest fish hatchery.

Fish You'll Find
The lower Lamoille River connects directly to Lake Champlain and has a very diverse fish community. Some common species you should expect to encounter are: yellow perch, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rock bass, brown bullhead, and northern pike. Other species that may be caught while fishing include walleye, landlocked Atlantic salmon and brown trout.

The lower Lamoille River offers excellent fishing from mid-May through the fall. The spring (May) offers the best chance to catch walleye during the spawning run.

In the fall, smallmouth bass are often captured in good numbers as they feed heavily on minnows in preparation for the coming winter.

Fishing Tips
One of the simplest and most productive methods that will capture a wide variety of fish species is a nightcrawler on a single hook with some weight. Depending on the current, you may need more or less weight, but the goal should be to get the bait near the bottom.

You can also fish live bait (worm or a minnow) under a bobber, but be sure to experiment with the depth. Casting inline spinners, spinnerbaits, and small minnow-imitating plugs are also productive methods. Water levels can fluctuate following heavy rains, which can make fishing difficult until flows decrease.
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How Do I Get There?
To get to the Lamoille River Access Area, take I-89 to Exit 17 in Colchester. Take US Route 2 west approximately 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Cub Road (you will need to first bear right to make a left turn). Take Cub Road until you come to a stop sign. At the stop sign turn left and then take the first right to the access.Get directions to Lamoille River Access Area

To get to the Sears Access Area, follow the directions as per above; however, after turning left at the stop sign on Cub Road, continue straight to the river instead of taking the first right.Get directions to Sears Access Area